On his monthly radio program, Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation President and CEO Larry Burns talks to community, government and business leaders about issues related to children’s health and wellness.

The hourlong show typically airs at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month on WJR 760AM. Here’s a summary of the show that aired Aug. 28; listen to the entire episode, and archived episodes, at chmfoundation.org/caringforkids.

Larry Burns: The Children’s Hospital Association organizes an annual Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day in Washington D.C. Through a grant provided by Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation, the Wyckoff family attended with our CEO, Luanne Ewald.

Luanne, tell us about the advocacy day.

Luanne Ewald: There are children’s hospitals from all over the country that come together. We run around Capitol Hill for 48 hours and meet with our state’s delegation. Our focus was on the children’s hospital graduate medical education bill, which was up for reauthorization. We brought the Wyckoffs with us, because they were an amazing family while their daughter, Claire, was going through health issues.

We had in-depth conversations with Debbie Stabenow and Debbie Dingell. Claire and her family told their story about and the specialists and residents that helped with Claire’s care. They reauthorized the bill a couple weeks after we left for $325 million. I’m giving Claire credit.

Amy Wyckoff

Burns: Tell us Claire’s story.

Wyckoff: Claire was a strong 10-year-old. One night, her arm hurt; we thought it was a pulled muscle. The next night she was in excruciating pain. (Soon after,) ... her right arm was turning up and she was dragging her right leg, so we knew it was neurological.

We took her to Children’s Hospital where it was determined that she had an AVM, an arteriovenous malformation, which is an aneurysm that ruptured into her spinal cord and the cervical spine. She was basically paralyzed on her right side. She had surgery to remove it, and we stayed at Children’s Hospital for two months, and they rallied around her.

Burns: How is she now?

Wyckoff: She’s great. She went from a wheelchair to a walker and now she’s walking around with a cane. She works hard at therapy, and she’s looking forward to school.

Burns: These are the stories that make our job worthwhile.

Tell us about your D.C. experience.

Wyckoff: Going to D.C. was a whirlwind. We warned Claire that it would be a lot of work but worth it to meet all the people and let them know how important this bill would be for everyone. We feel it’s important to be a voice for all the kids that don’t have the opportunity to be a voice.

Tonya Klein, founder, Healing Kids Foundation

Tonya Klein

Larry Burns: Tell us about your foundation.

Tonya Klein: The Healing Kids Foundation is a nonprofit designed to help pediatric burn survivors through Children’s Hospital of Michigan. We aim to promote burn awareness and prevention in Detroit and the surrounding cities.

Burns: How did you decide to create a foundation versus just wanting to help from time to time?

Klein: In 2014, my husband, Justin, was going through his pediatric surgery fellowship, and he would come home and talk about some of his cases in pediatric surgery, specifically with the pediatric surgeons at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. A lot of children’s hospitals don’t do burn surgeries; it’s typically an adults’ surgeon that does the burn surgeries, so (Children’s Hospital) is unique. Learning what these burn survivors go through struck something in me to want to help.

I came up with superhero boxes that I would deliver to the hospital for the kids, and then it just evolved. There are a lot of things children who go through burn surgery need post-operative, like burn dressings and pressure garments, and insurance companies don’t cover those costs.

I also wanted to send children to burn camp. There’s an amazing burn camp in Jackson called the Great Lakes Burn Camp.

Burns: How did you get connected with our foundation?

Klein: When you came on board, I had heard that you were starting more partnerships, so I took the chance to reach out. I’m blessed to be partnered with you and your team.

Burns: Talk about your first event coming up in September.

Klein: It’s called the Super Hero Dash; it’s Sunday, Sept. 23 at the sports complex field at Belle Isle. We’ll have inflatable obstacle courses, a superhero food truck, a DJ and family-friendly games. We’re looking to have an amazing time to support these burn survivors. (Details at healingkidsfoundation.com).

Burns: You recently wrote a children’s book?

Klein: Yes. I’m calling it “Healing Heroes to the Rescue.” The book has these healing heroes help children understand burn prevention.

Burns: In five or 10 years, where would you like to see your foundation?

Klein: I’m hoping through awareness and prevention we don’t have many burn injuries. A burn injury can be a lifelong journey to recovery. There are psychological and emotional components to healing. My vision is to help provide a community of connectedness and support for every survivor.

Brett Tillander, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Oakland and Macomb Counties

Brett Tillander

Larry Burns: What does the Boys and Girls Club do in today’s world?

Brett Tillander: Our organization started in Royal Oak in a little log cabin. We’re fortunate to be heading into our 60th anniversary. The beauty of Boys and Girls Clubs is the opportunity to be exceptionally responsive to the communities we serve. We serve boys and girls ages 6 to 18; our annual membership fee is $50 a year. It allows them to participate in a variety of programs, whether we’re focused on academic success or healthy minds and healthy hearts, or developing leadership skills and strong character for our next generations.

Burns: Where are the Boys and Girls clubs in each of those counties?

Tillander: We’re in Royal Oak. We opened in Ferndale in 2006; a woman at Ferndale schools used to see kids sit outside of Ferndale High School with no place to go in the winter and wait for a ride in temperatures that nobody should be outside for, and she wrote a $500 grant (to start that program). In 2011 we opened in Southfield at the Civic Center. We have a location in Washington Township as well.

Burns: The Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation recently granted funding to a program with your organization called Connect Today. Tell us about that program.

Tillander: It deals with significant issues of depression; your foundation has led on this issue. More than 50 percent of kids who need mental health services do not receive treatment; they don’t have access to it. Through your support, we’ll now be able to deliver mental health services to all four of our locations to those kids who need it most and their families.

Yesterday, two club members went directly to a staff member, privately, and told them they were dealing with mental health issues. In one of those cases, the parent was not receptive at first, but then once we were able to go deeper with her, it became clear there was a real need.

We know that when young people are not treated early on when it comes to mental health it plays out in their adult life; often we have issues around alcohol use and drug abuse. If we bring those services to them when they’re younger, it eliminates huge costs and the negative impact on communities across the state.

Burns: What are some of your other plans for the next few years?

Tillander: We’re focused on bringing the programs and services that we’re known for to the kids that we serve and have for 60 years now, to communities who need us most. Our board and our club are focused on that.